Season 2022 - Essendon

going reeeeeaaaaaaaallllly early! :laughing:

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not clear cut

Hurley if doesnt get back to best 22 might retire or leave as a free agent, Cutler, Ham, Phillips

Brand, Eyre, McBride, hird maybe if don’t show something.

I could see Hurley retiring and maybe ham moving clubs for more opportunities as that wing spot is starting to fill up.
Not sure on Phillips but likely if Bryan develops
Eyre I think we have to hold onto with our lack of forward options
Brand unlikely I think unless he doesn’t get he’s fitness up

Not that it matters, but Chungus should be an UFA like Snelling no?

Knowing our luck, we will be in the top 3 or so with things looking rosy when World War III breaks out…
I know, I know - slightly more important things to think about if so. Like not getting vapourised!

I’ve bookmarked this and will ridicule you when you don’t give this thread another thought.

You know me so well

Maybe. If we win enough games to make top eight, we will play finals unless the AFL hates us.

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Youngsters going “who the Fark is Cat Weasel?”

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Well we already know they hate us!

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Season 2022 IMO

from Imgflip Meme Generator

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As of right now we’d be in just about the best shape of any team in the comp in terms of player availability.

Obviously these things can change pretty quickly but we’re certainly no worse than anyone else on the eve of the season.

We have three guys unavailable (Reid, Hurley, Tippa) and only one in our best 22 (Tippa).

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And none are actually injured. Just conditioning now.

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I’ve still got Stringer on that list until proven otherwise.

And there are few players that we have less coverage for than Stringer and Walla.

But @Finding_Nino says that we are cursed with injuries!

Brisbane

Eric HIPWOOD (ACL) - Expected to return mid/late season
Dayne ZORKO (ankle) - Expected to return Round 1

Essendon

Michael HURLEY (hip) - Indefinite
Anthony MCDONALD-TIPUNGWUTI (personal) - Indefinite
Jake STRINGER (groin) - Test for Round 1
Zach REID (foot) - Expected to return mid-season

Fremantle

Nat FYFE (shoulder) - Expected to return Round 1
Matthew JOHNSON (foot) - In doubt for Round 1

Geelong

Jonathon CEGLAR (knee) - Test for Round 1
Mitch DUNCAN (calf) - Test for Round 1
Jack HENRY (foot) - Test for Round 1
Sam MENEGOLA (knee) - Test for Round 1
Gryan MIERS (syndesmosis) - Test for Round 1

Gold Coast

Charlie CONSTABLE (groin) - Expected to return Round 5
Jack BOWES (shoulder) - Expected to return mid-season
Ben KING (ACL) - Expected to return in 2023
Bodhi UWLAND (back) - Indefinite

Richmond

Jack GRAHAM (hamstring) - Expected to return in the early rounds
Dylan GRIMES (thumb) - Expected to miss Round 1
Kane LAMBERT (hip) - Indefinite
Tom LYNCH (hamstring) - Expected to return Round 1

St Kilda

Jack BILLINGS (groin) - Test for Round 1
Hunter CLARK (shoulder) - Expected to return Round 5
Nick COFFIELD (ACL) - Expected to return in 2023
Zak JONES (personal) - Indefinite
Paddy RYDER (Achillies) - Test for Round 1

Sydney

Callum MILLS (Achillies) - Test for Round 1
Sam NAISMITH (ACL) - Expected to return in 2023
Tom PAPLEY (hamstring) - Expected to return in Round 2
Callum SINCLAIR (concussion) - Expected to return Round 1

We are only average IMO, short list but longish timeframe for return of Tippa, Reid and Hurley…

C’mon Deck, you know we never have our Best 23 on the park at any one time.

Poor Nino is being persecuted.

are people saying walla aint best 23?

Depends which Walla you’re proffering. Now? Nope.

There’s a journo out there who goes to trainings and can pick the Victorian teams he predicts will finish top four based on how happy they are.

He picked Richmond 2017, Coll, 2018.

Apparently hawthorn count themselves out on account of their team song.